Information For

Are You a New Student?

Dear Prospective Student,

Thank you for choosing Hostos Community College as one of your colleges of interest. If you are relying on financial aid to cover your cost of education for the 2015-2016 academic year (July 1th 2015 – June 30th 2016), you should file a 2015-2015 Financial Aid applications (FAFSA and TAP) as soon as possible, attend our Financial Aid clinics/events/workshops and adhere to the guidelines specified in our Financial aid literature and bulletins.

If you have already filed the 2015-16 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and TAP applications, to assure no further action is required, make sure you check the status of your applications by visiting the Financial Aid office or by following the instructions on this letter.

If you have not filled out the FAFSA and TAP applications, we recommend that you take advantage of our services at our “Microlab”, located in the lower level of the Savoy Manor Building (D-Building), 120 East 149th Street, Room B102. Our staff will assist you with your online Financial Aid applications and help clarify any questions you might have about the Financial Aid process. If you are unable to visit our “Microlab”, you may also fill out the 2015-2016 FAFSA and TAP applications by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov / www.hesc.ny.gov/ For filing instructions, please visit the “How to apply” section.

To complete your FAFSA application, you will need specific documentation and information regarding you, your spouse (if you are married), and/or your parents (if you are considered as a dependent student according to federal regulations):

2014 income from:
-Self-employment (If income = at least $10,150 (for single filers), tax filing is required),
-Amount given to parent from other person (such as a relative) for living and personal expenses,
-Support given to parent for child from non-custodial parent such as child support

2014 unemployment income

2014 untaxed income, such as Social Security benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF), Veterans benefits

(INCOME TAX FILERS SHOULD WAIT APPROXIMATELY 2-3 WEEKS AFTER THEIR TAXES HAVE BEEN FILED TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL SO THAT IRS DATA CAN BE LINKED TO THE FAFSA APPLICATION).

Note: You do not need to have classes registered to apply for Financial Aid. In the event that you file a Financial Aid application late and/or have complications, you will be required to make a full payment for your enrolled classes to the Bursar’s office (718-518-4373). If you’re not receiving financial aid or it’s not enough to cover your Fall or Spring charges, you may want to enroll in the monthly payment plan.

Approximately 1 - 2 weeks after applying your online application, make sure you check the status by logging on to your “CUNYfirst” account or visiting the Financial Aid office to see if there are any further steps required.

We recommend that you visit our website at www.hostos.cuny.edu/ofa. Our website is periodically updated and contains useful information including “How do I know if I am an Independent student, How can I view my awards online”, etc. In addition, visit the Financial Aid TV (FATV) section of our website which contains short videos on all Financial Aid topics.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office at (718) 518-6555 or e-mail us at finaid@hostos.cuny.edu. We wish you good luck in your educational endeavors.